If St. John’s was looking for a test from Virginia Tech last night, a measuring stick as to their readiness for the Big East season, they were sorely disappointed. But if the Red Storm were looking for a laugher, a chance to flex their pecs, put on an offensive clinic and build some momentum heading into Saturday’s game at Connecticut, the Hokies were happy to oblige.

Newcomer Virginia Tech (6-6) was playing its first-ever Big East game, and the Hokies’ paperwork may say Big East, but their play said otherwise. And after this 89-64 mismatch reached Globetrotter-Generals comedy level, one could hardly blame Tech’s players if they were longing for the good ol’ Atlantic 10 days, or fault the Red Storm if they’re starting to feel good about themselves again.

After not being able to buy a basket in their offensive slump last month, the Storm (5-7) shot a misprint-like season-high 66 percent. After losing three straight to fall under .500, they’ve won three straight going into Saturday’s tilt at No. 10 UConn, 85-68 losers at Boston College last night.

“After the losses, coach got us together and told the team to go back to basics. We’ve been working hard to keep our composure, not get down. I think the losses helped us in a way,” said freshman point guard Omar Cook, who had a career-high 23 points and eight assists.

Cook has been the barometer for this team, shooting 29 percent in their losses and over 50 percent in their wins, and last night was no different. He had 11 points in a 31-7 run to open the game; his third three-pointer pushed the Red Storm’s lead to 25. They eventually led by as much as 31 and no less than 17 against a hapless Hokie team playing without second-leading scorer Brian Chase. Not that it would’ve mattered.

“Today I was in here working up a sweat before shoot-around. Usually we’re supposed to be here by (6 p.m.), but usually I’m late. But today I got here at 5, or 5:30. I was early today, and from now on,” said Cook. “After my first week of college basketball I got a little out-of-hand, trying to do too much. We all can score; I just see it now more than I did. It’s just believing in your teammates.”

St. John’s scored the first nine points of the game, sprinting – and that’s the operative word with their transition game in high gear – out to a 31-7 lead on Cook’s three-pointer from the left wing. He had a pair of deep threes, and a third just beyond the arc to push the lead to 25.

The Red Storm took a 47-26 edge into the locker room, their largest halftime lead of the season. And after shooting a torrid 64.3 percent, they got even better in the second half.

After Virginia Tech got a Bryant Matthews layup, and two Carlos Dixon free throws cut the lead to 17 to start the second half, St. John’s answered with a 10-2 run. Freshman Willie Shaw (16 points) made three straight free throws to push the lead to 57-32, and the Red Storm led by as much as 31 in the final minute of play in a dominant wire-to-wire effort.

“I’m enjoying coaching as much as I have since high school,” said coach Mike Jarvis. “It’s like I’ve gone to Disneyland and I’m going on Thunder Mountain. I feel like I’m taking a (roller-coaster) ride. It’s exciting as hell. I don’t know when it’s going to end, and every turn is new and unknown.

“I’ve seen a change since Dec. 26, when they came back from Christmas. I had asked the guys to go home and ask Santa to give them some more intensity, more concentration, more focus, and I guess he did that. It’s a new group of guys since then. We’ve become a better team since then.”